Flush-tank valve



Sept. 2, 1924; 1,507,383

. R. KLANN FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed April 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Shoot l R. KLANN FLUSH TANK VALVE Sept. 2, 1924. 1,507,383

Filed April 5, 1923 2 Shootl-Shoot 2 Patented Sept. 2, 192 -1.

UNITED STATES RUDOLPH KLANN, OF CHICAGO, ILL-INO'IS.

- FLUSH-TANK VALVE.

Application filed April 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDoLrrr KLANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F lush-Tank Valves, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to an improvement in flush tank valves and has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable, eiiicient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In' the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing my device in ope ative. position;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig a is a section taken substantially on line et-l of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates a flush tank, preferably closed, as shown, so that an air pressure above atmospheric pressure may be built up therein in the space above the normal level of the water normally contained therein. Also referring to Fig. 1, in which 2 indicates the bowl or other object which is to be flushed, my device is shown located between the tank and bowl. A suitable fitting 3, preferably L-shaped as shown, communicates at 5 with the port through said tank and also has an opening 4; communicating with the source of water supply such as a water main.

In the apparatus illustrated the single port or opening through the tank is used for both the intake to and the discharge from the tank. A. hollow member 6, preferably of T- shape formation, has an inlet opening 7 communicating with the interior of the litting 3, whereby the water from the tank may flow into the member 6. A sleeve 8 is ar- 1923. Seria1 N0. 630,059.

ranged within the hollow interior of the fitting 6 and has one or more ports 9 of the desired size and shapeintermediate its ends, these ports being preferably arranged adjacent the lower end of the sleeve. Members 10 and 11 are arranged transversely across the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the sleeve 8, the upper member having a port therethrough provided with a valve seat 12 at its inner side and which is adapted to cooperate with a valve 13 having a stem 14 projecting upwardly through said fitting for a suitable distance. The lower member 11 has a discharge opening therethrough provided with a valve seat 15 at its inner side. A valve 16 is arranged to normally seat on the. seat 15 and closes passage therethrough. The valve 16 is freely slidable longitudinally within the sleeve between the pair of valve seats and it will be noted that said valve is of a size sutiiciently smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve to permit lateral play or free movement therebetween, as at 17, so that water entering through the inlet ports 9 may leak or flow upwardly past the space between the valve 16 and the inner wall of the sleeve 8 to the larger space between the valves, and thus the weight of the water acting downwardly upon the valve 16 will normally keep the valve in its closed position. The pressures of the water in the main inlet 7 and in the space between the valves 13 and 16 will thus be equalized when the valves are in their closed positions shown, and the valves 16 and 13 be firmly maintained on their seats.

The valve 16 is reduced in diameter at one or more axially spaced points intermediate its ends so to provide annular chambers between the valve and the inner sleeve wall, as at 18, so as to more quickly lift the valve when the pressure above it is relieved.

A relief duct 19 is arranged to extend throughthe members 10 and 11, the upper endof said duct communicating with the space above the upper member 10, and the lower end of said duct communicating with the discharge outlet leading to the bowl. The operation of the device is as follows:

5 Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 3, it is obvious that the water in the tank is under pressure, caused by the compressed air thereabove and the water pressure, and that the water within the sleeve in the space between the valves and at the inlet ports 9 will also Ill) be at the same pressure, all of the pressures bein equal. Check valves or the like may be placed in the water supply line if desired. As soon as the valve 13 is unseated, the water in the sleeve in the space between the valves will rush outwardly into the space above the part 10 and downwardly through the duct 19, thus lowering the pressure of the water between the valves and unbalancing the pressure on opposite sides of the valve 16. This causes the valve 16 to lift and the water entering through the ports 9 will further assist to lift the valve 16 from its seat to the dotted line position shown, and permit the contents of the tank to flow outwardly through the discharge port to flush the bowl. inwardly through the ports 9 and slowly past the valve 16 to the space intermediate the valves to close the valve 13, the valve 16 gradually lowering to its seat. The water continues to flow inwardly through the ports 9 to the space between the valves until the pressure thereat is the same as at the tank, whereupon the parts will be in equilibrium again. I

Any desired means may be provided for manually operating the valve 13 and in the form shown a button 20 is carried at the outer end of the valve stem 14 and is slidable on a tubular casing 21 enclosing said valve stem. A rubber tube 24% may be interposed between the stem 14 and the casing 21 to form a water-tight gasket and pre vent water from passing upwardly of the button 20, said tube 24: secured at one end to the button and at its other end to the lower end of the casing 21. lVhen the button is moved downwardly the rubber tube is compressed, whereupon the releasing of the button will enable the tube to elongate to its normal length, tending to retrieve the button and valve 13 to their normal positions. Any equivalent for the rubber tube may be employed. A sleeve 22 may be provided to partially enclose the button 20' and conceal the retaining screw 23 if desired. This also limits movement of the button and valve and tends to prevent tampering.

It may be. mentioned that the tank may be of any desired material, size, and shape, and there being no mechanism contained within the tankit may be of a size and shape to be set in the wall and be entirely concealed. In fact I have found pipe of the desired length very satisfactory for the purpose. The tanks, where there are several installed on different floors, may be varied in sizes, if desired, as I havefound in some installations it is preferable to make the tank of greater size on the upper floorsthan on the lower. It will be noted that the tank being open, if desired, to the supply line or main, there may be some pulsation or slight surging in the tank due to the pump The water continues to flow supplying the water, this in some cases tending to prevent freezing up of the system in instances where other systems might freeze. It also tends to prevent stoppage of the system in some instances.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A device of the character described comprising a hollow member, a sleeve arranged in said hollow member, a closure for each end of the sleeve having a port therethrough forming valve seats, the sleeve hav ing inlet ports adjacent the lower closure, a manually operable valve controlling the upper closure port, and a valve'for con trolling the lower closure port, said lower valve being operable within the sleeve.

2. A device of the character described comprising a hollow member, a sleeve arranged m said hollow member, a closure for each end of the sleeve having a port therethrough forming valve seats, the sleeve.

having inlet ports ad] acent the lower closure, a manually operablevalve controlling the upper closure port, and a valve for controlling the lower closure port, said lower valve being operable within the sleeve and of less diameter than the sleeve to allow water entering the sleeve inlet ports to pass therearound and into the space between the valves.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a chamber having inlet ports adjacent one end arranged to communicate with the discharge of a Water tank and having valve seats at its opposite ends, a manually operable valve seating at one of said seats, the other valve seat arranged below said inlet ports, a valve mem-. ber seating on said last-mentioned seat and longitudinally slidable in said chamber and "also having lateral play thereinwhereby the water entering said inlet ports may flow slowly past said slidable valve to close said manually operable valve, and a duct leading from above said first-mentioned valve seat to below said second valve seat.

4a.. A device of the kind described comprising a tank having a discharge opening leading therefrom, a chambered member having an inlet port intermediate its end communicating with said discharge and having ports at its opposite ends, a manually operable valve controlling the upper end port, an automatically actuated valve free of inter'connection 'With 7 said manually operable valve to control the lower end port, said last-mentioned valve being slidable longitudinally of the chamber and having lateral play therein and being reduced in diameter adjacent the inlet port so as to form an annular chamber with the inner wall of said first-mentioned chamber, and a duct leading from above said upper port to below said lower port.

In a device of the kind described and in combination, a hollow member having a sleeve arranged therein with upper and lower closure having ports therethrough forming valve seats, inlet ports through said sleeve adjacent its lower end, a manually operable valve controlling the upper valve seat, a valve within said sleeve and movable between said valve seats to seat on the lower seat and having lateral play in the sleeve, whereby water may pass slowly from said inlet ports: past said last-mentioned valve to the space between said valves to close the upper valve, and a relief duct leading from above said upper valve to below said lower valve whereby the unseating of said upper valve will permit the water between said valves to flow out from said relief duct to lift the lower valve.

6. In a device of the kind described and in combination with a closed tank having an opening therethrough forming a common water inlet and discharge therefor, a hollow member communicating with said opening, a sleeve within said hollow member and having inlet ports adjacent its lower end, closures for the upper and lower ends of the sleeve having ports therethrough forming valve seats, a valve at the upper port, a valve within said sleeve and having lateral play therein and movable between the upper and lower ports to seat on the lower port, whereby water may pass slowly inwardly from said inlet ports through the space between said last-mentioned valve and sleeve to above said lower valve to close the upper valve and maintain the lower valve in its closed position, and a relief duct leading from the space above said upper valve to below said lower valve, whereby the unseating of said upper valve will permit the water between said valves to flow out through said duct to relieve the water pressure above said lower valve and unseat it.

7. A. device of the kind described and in combination, a hollow member communicating with a source of water supply, a sleeve within said member having end closures with ports therein and an inlet port intermediate its ends communicating with the interior of said hollow member, valve seats at said end closure ports, a manually controlled valve at the upper of said valve seats, and a slidable valve within said sleeve to control the lower valve seat and having lateral play within said sleeve, whereby the water pressure in said sleeve will be automatically unbalanced to lift the lower valve when the upper valve is unseated.

8. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a chambered member having an intake and a discharge therefor and having valve seats at its opposite ends, one of said valve seats arranged at said discharge, a valve member controlling said last-111entioned seat and freely slidable in said chamber, a manually operable valve controlling the other seat to cause the unseating of said first-mentioned valve when said second-mentioned valve is actuated, a valve stem carried by said second valve and projecting beyond said chambered member, a casing enclosing said stem, a button car ried at the outer end of said stem, and a rubber tube within the casing encircling said stem and connected at one end to said but ton and fixedly held at the other end to prevent leakage past the tube and tend to automatically retrieve the button to its normal position after each operation thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLPH KLANN. l vitnesses ROY W. HILL, RUTH M. EPHRAIM. 

